PREVALENCE OF MODALITIES OF HEADACHES AND BRUXISM AMONG PATIENTS WITHCRANIOMANDIBULAR DISORDER

This study compared the presence of headache and bruxing behavior amon g 133 craniomandibular disorder patients (CMD) referred to the The Cen ter For the Study Of Craniomandibular Disorders and to the presence of headache and bruxing behavior occurring in 133 controls seeking routi ne dental care, Both patients and controls were consecutive referrals to the clinic occurring over a three year period, The mean age of the CMD group was 38 years (range 28-42), and the mean age of the controls was 37 years (range 25-44), The information gathered included questio nnaire and clinical examination. Different types of headaches, signs a nd symptoms of CMD, and bruxing behavior were assessed both in the CMD group and in the corresponding control group, Results of this study s howed that bruxing behavior and headache pain were significantly more prevalent in the CMD group (57%, 76%) than in the corresponding contro l group (37%, 49%). Of the three types of headache observed, tension a nd combination headaches were more prevalent in the CMD group (n=48=36 % and n=37=28%). Migraine headache was more prevalent in the CMD group (n=16=12%) than in the control group (n=3=2%). It was concluded that headache and bruxing behavior predominated in CMD patients. This data reinforces the need to assess headache pain and signs and symptoms of bruxing behavior in CMD patients, particularly in those suffering chro nic facial pain and headache.